Wanna Be a Baller
"Wanna Be a Baller" is a single by American hip-hop artist Lil' Troy featuring Fat Pat, Yungstar, Lil' Will, Big T and H.A.W.K.. It was released in 1999 as the second single from his debut major label studio album Sittin' Fat Down South. The song peaked at #70 on the Billboard Hot 100 music chart.
"Wanna Be a Baller" | ||||
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Single by Lil' Troy featuring Fat Pat, Yungstar, Lil' Will, Big T and H.A.W.K. | ||||
from the album Sittin' Fat Down South | ||||
Released | May 15, 1999 | |||
Genre | Hip hop | |||
Length | 3:39 | |||
Label | Universal, Republic, Short Stop | |||
Songwriter(s) | Troy Lane Birklett, John Hawkins, Patrick L. Hawkins, Jarvis Lemon, Terence Glen Prejean, Bruce Isaac Rhodes | |||
Producer(s) | Bruce "Grim" Rhodes | |||
Lil' Troy featuring Fat Pat, Yungstar, Lil' Will, Big T and H.A.W.K. singles chronology | ||||
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Lil' Troy did not write or perform in the song.[1][2]
The song samples "Little Red Corvette" by Prince.[3]
Legacy
This song has had a tragic legacy as almost everyone featured on this song has died at a relative early age.[4] Fat Pat was shot to death February 3, 1998, almost one year prior to the song's release. On May 1, 2006, Big Hawk, who filled in for his brother Fat Pat for the video shoot, was also murdered. Lil' Troy's cousin Lil' Will died in a car accident in February 2016. Big T, who contributed vocals for the song's hook, died May 8, 2018 of a suspected heart attack.[5]
Yungstar, a Houston-area mixtape legend is the lone survivor and is still active performing and featuring on other artist's songs while recording for his upcoming album.
The song is featured on the soundtrack of NBA 2K19, which was curated by rapper Travis Scott.[6]
Los Angeles trap bass duo Made Monster remixed this song in 2016.
Charts
Peak positions
Chart (1999) | Peak position |
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U.S. Billboard Hot 100[7] | 70 |
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks[7] | 40 |
U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Singles[7] | 31 |
U.S. Billboard Rhythmic Top 40[7] | 8 |
U.S. Billboard Top 40 Tracks[7] | 36 |
References
- "Shot Caller: An Interview with "Wanna Be A Baller's" Lil Troy". Passion of the Weiss. June 24, 2015. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
- BMI Work #5530613: Wanna Be a Baller
- "Shot Caller: An Interview with "Wanna Be A Baller's" Lil Troy". Passion of the Weiss. June 24, 2015. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
- Garrick, David (2018-05-09). "Tragic Legacy of Wanna Be a Baller". Houston Press. Retrieved 2018-05-10.
- "Big T, Texas Rapper Known For 'Wanna Be a Baller,' Dies at 52". Associated Press. 2018-05-09. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
- Groux, Christopher (15 August 2018). "'NBA 2K19' SOUNDTRACK RELEASED ON SPOTIFY WITH TRACKLIST MIXED BY TRAVIS SCOTT". Newsweek. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
- Lil Troy allmusic